Traffic to slow with big events and closures of 520 bridge, I-5 lanes

Update 4 p.m. Saturday: The scheduled closure of SR 522 at the Snohomish River Bridge in Monroe has been canceled, the state says, because of rain in the forecast.

Original post:

Another slow weekend is approaching for Seattle highway users, who must dodge another Highway 520 closure along with I-5 narrowings and even a 10-mile night detour near Monroe.

These coincide with several events, including the annual Pride Parade in Seattle on Sunday, as well as three Mariners games against the Cleveland Indians.

This comes as the Seattle area ranks fourth-worst for average delays, in the latest analysis this spring by the Tom Tom navigation company.

Highway 520 will close in both directions, from 11 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, to pour concrete decking at the West Connection Bridge over Lake Washington, and to lay asphalt on the Eastside surface roadway. Shutdowns will stretch from Montlake Boulevard to I-405.

Interstate 5 northbound will lose two left lanes, from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, to replace the west half of seven old expansion joints, near the West Seattle Bridge interchange. After this weekend, the project will no longer need around-the-clock lane shutdowns.

The Pride Parade in downtown Seattle will close the southbound I-5 ramp to Union Street from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. The parade route runs along Fourth Avenue, from Union to Seattle Center.

[Canceled, by WSDOT Saturday afternoon] Highway 522 will close at the Snohomish River Bridge, from 11 p.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday, for the concrete deck to be poured. A 10-mile detour will lead drivers via Highway 9.

Highway 2 eastbound between Everett and Lake Stevens will close overnight from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m., both Saturday and Sunday, for crack repairs and paving between Highway 204 and Highway 9. Congestion will be worst on Sunday morning. Another source of traffic is Summer Showdown 200 at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, on Saturday night.

The Greenwood Car Show is expected to draw tens of thousands of people. Greenwood Avenue North will close from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, from North 65th Street to North 90th Street.

Other events around the city include the Seafair Pirates Landing at Alki Beach and Beacon Hill Art Walk on Saturday.

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The Today File is a general news blog featuring real-time coverage of Seattle and the Northwest. It is reported by the news staff of The Seattle Times and includes stories from The Associated Press and McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.